AI dating startup Ditto has launched Bay Area Bestie, a new text-based friendship matching service in San Francisco. The free platonic platform gained thousands of sign-ups in 24 hours. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

UK safety regulator Ofcom is investigating gay dating app Sniffies over concerns that minors can access the platform without proper age verification checks. The platform denies breaching the Online Safety Act. globaldatinginsights.com/fro…

Users are turning Meta’s Muse AI assistant into a romantic companion. Meta permits adults to have romantic and explicit exchanges with the assistant, raising significant user privacy concerns. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

The UK is introducing new rules for automatically renewing subscriptions on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble starting January 2027, making it easier for users to cancel. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

Viber Dating has recorded a 96.9% year-on-year growth in monthly active users in the Philippines, making it the platform's fastest-growing global market. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

Australia is preparing legal action against five major social media platforms over under-16 age restriction breaches. Platforms face fines up to A$109.2M. [1, 2] globaldatinginsights.com/new…

Match Group is expanding safety features on Tinder and Hinge in India. The updates introduce screenshot blocking, contact blocking, and video selfie verification to cut down on scams. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

Grindr CEO George Arison aims to build a $1.5B PrEP healthcare business by 2030 following its acquisition of telehealth provider Freddie. The app plans to fully integrate prescription services inside the app. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

Nearly 47% of UK singles believe connecting with people has never been harder, according to a new Match Group study. It shows 43% spend most social time behind screens and 66% of Gen Z use AI for dating advice. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

UK singles are shifting to in-person dating events as average monthly app usage dropped from nearly 4 hours in 2023 to 3 hours in 2025. Match Group is now expanding its IRL events into the UK. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

AI companion app Tolan has raised $30M in a funding round led by Union Square Ventures, bringing its total funding to $60M. The platform has 250k monthly active users. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

Tinder has partnered with Sprite in India for a new dating campaign called Truth and Spice. The YouTube series features celebrities talking about relationships while facing spicy food challenges. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

New Pew Research shows 40% of US adults belong to an online community, rising to 48% for ages 18–29. While 70% say these spaces add value, only 20% feel genuinely close to other members. globaldatinginsights.com/unc…

Bumble has introduced "Handles," a new optional feature allowing iOS users in the US to find specific dating profiles via unique usernames. Profiles remain private until both parties match. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

Hinge is introducing mandatory educational tutorials for users who send inappropriate messages, allowing them to correct their behavior and avoid an immediate globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

Character.ai has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US. Disney is offering $20 million to license some of its IP during the court-supervised sale process. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

Bumble has agreed to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings in an all-cash deal valuing the company at $1.3 billion. The acquisition will take the major dating platform private. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…

New dating and social app Stoke is set to launch in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood on November 7. The platform connects users in real life by partnering with local venues. globaldatinginsights.com/fro…

Bumble is in advanced talks with Ithaca Holdings to go private in a $1 billion deal. The move follows a steep valuation drop from its $14 billion 2021 IPO, despite a recent 50% stock surge on buyout rumors. [1, 2] globaldatinginsights.com/fro…

Journalist Hanna Kozlowska’s new book, U Up?: An Intimate History of Online Dating, is open for pre-orders ahead of its January 2027 release. The book explores how tech changed romance, tracing love from 1960s computer matching to modern AI. globaldatinginsights.com/fea…